A Hernando County homeowner describes severe storm‑surge damage from Hurricane Helene and has enrolled in the county's temporary travel‑trailer housing program. County staff say donated trailers are limited and prioritized for the most vulnerable.

Tampa’s Grey Bull Rescue says teams are deploying to Jordan to help Americans after U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran. The group asks those in danger to register on its site.

Just Salad has opened on West Neptune Street in South Tampa, adding chef‑designed salads, reusable‑bowl perks and a week of grand‑opening deals.

Manatee County deputies found a woman and two children dead inside a Lakewood Ranch home during a welfare check; detectives are processing the scene.

A third suspect has been arrested in the Riverview killing of Hiojaira Velez-Bonilla; authorities say he helped move and dispose of her body.

Deputies say a Riverview man used 100+ manipulated self‑checkout scans at Winn‑Dixie stores, siphoning nearly $10,000 over eight months; he’s now jailed on felony charges.

Hillsborough County is rolling out Axon Draft One to draft first-pass narratives from body-camera audio for non-criminal calls. Civil-rights groups warn the tool could complicate transparency and oversight.

Starwood Capital paid about $47.3M for 360 Tampa‑area apartments, including a fully affordable Plant City complex and a senior community near Ybor. The purchase adds to investor activity around affordable housing in the region.

Residents say mailed checks in Lakewood Ranch were stolen and chemically altered; postal inspectors and Manatee deputies are investigating. Banks have flagged suspicious deposits and some money was recovered.

Hillsborough County will install vape-detection sensors in every high school this spring after a pilot found vaping in restrooms; the board has pressed staff on privacy and discipline.

An emergency rule from the Florida Department of Health would narrow ADAP eligibility and remove key HIV drugs, putting thousands at risk across the state. Legal fights and a public comment window are underway.

Clearwater is pitching a plan to convert underused Main Library space into an arts destination as a new hotel, tower and parking garage reshape downtown. City staff are pre-marketing the opportunity to museums and cultural partners.

PSTA board discussed using insurance proceeds to hire outside counsel after last year’s deadly Clearwater Ferry crash. The agency floated authorizing up to $500,000 to handle claims and lawsuits.